Circuit-controlling device



(No Model.)

M. THUM CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE.

No. 473,595. Patented Apr. 26, 1892. a, W

cl Il ,1 m I A;EEZE E; w'zy "a I L L I p a j N i Witnesses: Inventor:G/MM W W WWW UNITED STATES MANDEVILLE TIIUM, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,595, dated April26, 1892.

Application filed June 5, 1891.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MANDEVILLE THUM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State ofKentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCircuit-Controlling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to circuit-controlling devices by which,upon the current in the circuit exceeding a certain predetermined ornormal amount, aehange will be effected in said circuit or in anothercircuit. Such change may consist of a break in the circuit, a partialinterruption of it, or the substitution therein of branch or otherconducting devices.

My invention consists in a magnetic core having an electric contact orcontact portion carried by or formed with the core, a helix surroundingthe core and connected with the contact, and an armature having acontact adapted to bear upon said first-mentioned contact and to beseparated therefrom upon the movement of the armature toward this core.

My invention also consists in the parts and combinations thereof,hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown inthe accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practicaleffect without, however, limiting the application of the improvements tothe constructions which for the sake of illustration I have delineated.

In said drawings, Figure l is a viewof acircuit-controlling deviceembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the same.

Referring to the drawings, 0 is the core, as at a, and M the helix of anelectro-magnet, one end of the helix being electrically connected withthe core and the other end a being adapted to be joined to the conductorA of acircuit A A. At m the core is provided with an insulated portion,which is separated from the rest of the core by an insulating material1', and at P is provided with a contact portion. The part m may beentirely of insulating material; but I prefer to form it of conductingmaterial, as shown, in the form of a ring surrounding the core andadapted to be connected with a conductor a.

Serial No. 395,265. (No model.)

D is an armature situated within the sphere of attraction of the core 0and movably supported by suitable means, in this instance by springs (Z,which are secured to the armature and grasp the core. Said springs formelectrical contacts adapted to bear upon the contact portion P of thecore, as shown in the drawings, or upon the ring m, according to theposition of the armature.

I indicates an insulating stop or stops interposed between the armatureand the core and adapted to arrest the movement of the former toward thecore, so that the springs d will rest upon the ring m and the springsand armature be insulated from the core.

The circuit the augmentation of whose current is to operate the armatureis indicated at A A, the former end being connected electrically withthe springs d, as through the armature, and the latter end beingelectrically connected with the core through the helix M. Upon theenergization or abnormal energization of the eoreO by occurrence oraugmentation of the electric current in the circuit A M A the armature Dwill approach the core and the contacts cl be separated from the contactP and caused to touch the part m. The current throughA A will thus beinterrupted. If the conductor a be employed and grounded at g orotherwise connected, the augmented current from A will pass to saidconductor aand thence to the ground or to whatever instrument the latterconductor is connected with. The tension of the springs cl is of theproper degree to hold the armature in place with such tightness that itwill not be moved by the normal attraction of the magnet, but will bepermitted to move under the attraction caused by an abnormal increase ofcurrent in the circuit.

It will be understood that my invention 0011- templates the substitutionof another magnet for the armature, the magnets being arranged withtheir ends of opposite polarity abutting.

The tension of the springs cl may be regulated to the desired degree byscrews d, mounted in bearings on the armature and engaging said springs.By turning the screws inward the springs will be caused to grasp thecore more firmly, and a greater attractive force in the latter will benecessary to break the circuit.

What I claim isy 1. The combination, with a magnetic core,

. of a contact portion carried'by said core, a

helix electrically connected with said contact and surrounding the core,and an armature having a contact normally bearing upon said contactportion and which when in such position permits the movement of thearmature toward the core for the purpose of separating said contacts,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a magnetic core, of a helix electricallyconnected therewith, a contact portion carried by the core, an armaturehaving a contact adapted to bear upon said contact portion and movabletoward the core, means for resisting the normal attractive force exertedupon the armature, and an insulation adapted to receive the armature-comtact when the latter is movedtoward the core, substantially as setforth.

3. The combination, with a magnetic core, of a helix electricallyconnected therewith, a

contact portion carried by the core, an armature having a contactadapted to bear upon said contact portion and movable toward the core,means for resisting the normal attractive force exerted upon thearmature, an insulated contact adapted to receive the armature-contactwhen the latter is moved toward the core, and a conductor extending fromsaid insulated contact, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a magnetic core, of a helix, a contact carriedthereby, a helix surrounding the core and connected with said contact,and an armature provided with spring contact-arms adapted to grasp thecore, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

MANDEVILLE THUM Witnesses:

H. N. Low, I WILLIAM L. ALLEN.

